Sunderland to kick off Championship season with home clash against Derby County

Relegated Sunderland will get the new Championship season underway with a clash against Derby County at the Stadium of Light on Friday, August 4.

The Black Cats, who remain without a permanent manager following David Moyes's departure, have a tough start to the campaign.

The North-East outfit will take on Norwich City, Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United and Barnsley in the opening month, and three of those fixtures are away.

Garry Monk, who was recently appointed the new Middlesbrough manager, will coach his first competitive match against Wolverhampton Wanderers, and his first home game of the season will see Sheffield United visit the Riverside.

As for League One, demoted Blackburn Rovers, Wigan Athletic and Rotherham United will take on Southend United, MK Dons and Fleetwood Town in their opening matches respectively.

Down in League Two, new boys Forest Green Rovers will begin their campaign with a home clash against Barnet, while fellow promoted side Lincoln City will go on the road to face Wycombe Wanderers.

Championship opening weekend:

August 4-6

Sunderland vs. Derby Bristol City vs. Barnsley Ipswich Town vs. Birmingham Sheffield United vs. Brentford Burton Albion vs. Cardiff City Fulham vs. Norwich City Wolves vs. Middlesbrough Nottingham Forest vs. Millwall Preston vs. Sheffield Wednesday QPR vs. Reading Aston Villa vs. Hull City Bolton Wanderers vs. Leeds United

League One opening weekend:

August 5

Bury vs. Walsall Charlton Athletic vs. Bristol Rovers Doncaster Rovers vs. Gillingham Fleetwood Town vs. Rotherham United Milton Keynes Dons vs. Wigan Athletic Oldham Athletic vs. Oxford United Peterborough United vs. Plymouth Argyle Portsmouth vs. Rochdale Scunthorpe United vs. A.F.C. Wimbledon Shrewsbury Town vs. Northampton Town Southend United vs. Blackburn Rovers

League Two opening weekend:

August 5

Accrington Stanley vs. Colchester United Carlisle United vs. Swindon Town Chesterfield vs. Grimsby Town Coventry City vs. Notts. County Crawley Town vs. Port Vale Crewe Alexandra vs. Mansfield Town Exeter City vs. Cambridge United Forest Green Rovers vs. Barnet Luton Town vs. Yeovil Town Morecambe vs. Cheltenham Town Stevenage vs. Newport County Wycombe Wanderers vs. Lincoln City